The Ministry of Infrastructure needs to offer extra room to competitors on the railways within the new multi-year concession, which can run from the start of 2025. That is additionally consistent with European coverage. However now NS nonetheless has obligations with regard to worldwide connections, during which it cooperates with overseas rail carriers. A consequence of that is, for instance, {that a} practice goes to Brussels each hour throughout the day, explains the spokesman for the NS.
The strains throughout the border are not included within the concession proposal on the desk. In response to the NS, giant rail corporations from France or Germany, for instance, are invited to drive on the connections with the Netherlands with out the NS. However they’re most likely primarily involved in commercially attention-grabbing instances, for instance throughout rush hour, the NS thinks.
Appearing NS CEO Bert Groenewegen says in dialog with the FD that he’s shocked by these and different adjustments within the preliminary program of necessities for the brand new concession. The newspaper additionally cites the quantity agreements for Dutch routes, which the federal government manages. These would imply that the NS will quickly be allowed to run solely a restricted variety of trains per hour on well-liked connections, with a view to additionally provide house to different suppliers.
There’ll quickly be one other assembly within the Home of Representatives, during which supporters and opponents of the liberalization on the railways will focus on the necessities for the concession. Groenewegen will sit there on behalf of the NS. However numerous professors and different representatives are additionally anticipated to offer their opinion there.
